Clamping and lifting tongs.



No. 803,044. PATENTED OCT; 31, 1905.

U. W. ZIPPERER.

GLAMPING AND LIPTING TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYv 7. 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL VVILHELM ZIPPERER, OF MUNICH, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO HAM- MEL,RIGLANDER & CO., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed July '7, 1904- Seria1 No. 215,593.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL WILHELM ZIPPE- RER, a subject of the GermanEmperor, residingin Munich,Kingdom of Bavaria,Empire of Germany, haveinvented a new and useful Iniprovement in Clamping and LiftingTongs, ofwhich the following is a description.

Thisinvention relates to tongs or clamping instruments for jewelers andwatchmakers use, and particularly to clamping-tongs which are used forthe purpose of removing and extracting parts and portions of Watches andother like mechanisms which are held by friction and which requirecareful and delicate manipulation.

An object of this invention is to provide a tool capable of engaging andextracting and removing the various parts of such delicate mechanismsaswatches and which will afford protection against injury to and breakageof such parts and the mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool which, owing toits dimensions and its mode of operation, is specially adapted for useby watchmakers and repairers for the purpose of removing watch-handsfrom their posts, the table-roller from its shaft or staff, theroller-jewel, and various other delicate parts which require carefulhandlingand manipulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool by means ofwhichthe small bolts, nails, pivots, rivets, and other articles anddevices which are usually held in place by friction or otherwise in agiven article may be conveniently, quickly, and easily removed.

With the above objects in view, and others which will be disclosed andreferred to during the course of this description, this inventionconsists in the parts, features, and combinations of elementshereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this description, Figure 1represents in elevation the tongs or implement constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 represents in elevation the tongs of Fig. lina different positionthat is, with the parts depressed so as to throw thegripping and holding fingers open preparatory to causing the same tograsp and extract thedesired part. Fig. 3 shows in detail perspectivethe various parts of my tongs, said parts being in such relativeposition that the manner of assembling the sameis readily apparent. Fig.lisa longitudinal central section of the implement, showing the partsin'the position of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing indetail the construction of the gripping-fingers and the parts adjacentthereto.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates the tubular cylindrical bodyportion which supports the gripping-fingers, the lower part of the bodyportion being longitudinally bifurcated or divided to provide the prongs2 and 3. The portion 1 is also provided with the shoulder 4, formed byreducing the upper end thereof, said reduced portion beingscrewthreaded, as indicated at 5, the pitch of which may be varied. Inthe slot or bifurcation the gripping and holding fingers 6 and 7 arepivoted by means of the screw 8, which passes first through the prong 2,then through the respective fingers, and then into the prong 3. Thisscrew 8 supports the fingers 6 and 7 and permits their pivotal movement.The fingers 6 and 7 are formed substantially semicircular and arearranged so that their gripping ends 9 and 10 may be normally incontact. The fingers 6 and 7 are provided, respectively, with extendedends 11 and 12, arranged substantially at a right angle to the adjacentfinger portions. These two ends 11 and 12 are caused normally toapproach each other by means of springs 13 and 14:, which bear upon theends 11 and 12, respectively, the springs being held by means of screws15 and 16 in seats or grooves 17 and 18, respectively,

formed in the body portion 1 directly above the bifurcation. The bodyportion 1 is smooth-bored at 19 from end to end and is also providedwith a screw-threaded aperture 20, passing through to the central bore,the purpose of which will be described presently. The extensions 11 and12 have their adjacent surfaces constructed so as to diverge from eachother from the pivotal point 8, and the gripping-fingers 6 and 7 are soproportioned that their gripping ends 9 and 10 when in engagement witheach other will prevent the extensions 11 and 12 from coming together,thus providinga space between them suificient for the entrance of theactuating-pin hereinafter described. The springs 13 and 14: may beconstructed in any suitable manner, so as to exert the requisite amountof pressure upon the gripping-fingers to both hold them normallytogether and enable them to firmly engage and hold the part operatedupon and to be lifted and extracted.

A sheath or casing 21 is made sufiiciently large to slide over andsnugly fit the body portion 1, the shoulder 4 when the parts are inproper position engaging the bottom of an interior circular flange 22,provided on the sheath. The sheath 21 is also provided with an elongatedslot 23, which when the parts are properly adjusted registers with theaperture in the body portion 1. The lower end of the sheath 21 issuitably formed to provide the feet 24, provided at the bottom with theangular recesses 25. When the sheath is in place, the feet 24 will becaused to face the flat sides of and extend substantially parallel withthe gripping-fingers 6 and 7. In the recesses 25 is set a cross-bar 26,the ends of which are turned at an angle thereto, so as to provide lugs27, through which screws 28 may pass for securing the cross-bar to thefeet 24, the screws passing through the lugs 27 and entering thescrew-threaded apertures 29 in said feet 24. When these parts are inproper position, the cross-bar 26 will extend between thegripping-fingers 6 and 7, the lower ends of which latter will alwaysoperate below said cross-bar. (See Fig. 4.)

The coiled spring 30 is made of a diameter sufficient to freely enterthe sheath 21, wherein it will rest and find a support upon the flange22.

31 is a collar provided with depending legs 32 and a slot having thevertical portion 33 and horizontal portions 34 at each end of thelatter. The legs are each provided at their lower end with a soft pad35, of any suitable material-such as kid, leather, or chamois skin thesame being clamped thereon by means of a plate 36 and screw 37, thelatter passing through said plate and into the leg. These pads preventthe legs from scratching or otherwise marring or injuring the enameledsurfaces of watch-dials or other polished surfaces. The legs 32 aregiven any form-which may be found convenient and suitable for thepurpose of permitting free action of the gripping-fingers 6 and 7 and tothis end may be made slightly bowed longitudinally and in cross-sectionconcavo-convex. This structure gives lateral freedom of movement to thefingers 6 and 7 and without a great spread of the legs afl'ords room forthe operation of said fingers.

38 is an adjusting-nut which screws upon the part 5 of the body portion1 and against the bottom of which the spring 30 exerts its 5 pressure,so as to lift the body portion, with its fingers 6 and 7, into theposition of highest elevation. (Shown in Fig.1.) The periphery of thenut 38 is knurled at 39 to enable it to be easily manipulated.

40 is the actuating-plunger, the exterior of which is quite smooth inorder to permit it to freely slide Within the longitudinal bore 19' ofthe body portion 1. At its upper end the plunger is provided with thehead 41, by which the same may be manipulated. At its lower end theplunger is provided with the reduced portion or neck 42, which producesbelow it the portion 43 of the same diameter as the main body of theplunger, shoulders 44 being thus provided at opposite ends of the neck42. At its lower end the plunger is provided with the conical or bevelportion 45, which converges to acentrally-disposed pin 46 at the extremelower end of the plunger. A spring 47 surrounds the plunger 40 and hasits upper end in engagement with the head 41 of the plunger and itslower end in engagement with the upper end of the reduced part 5 of thebody portion 1. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 4.)

48 is a screw which passes through the slot 23 in the sheath 21, screwsinto the aperture 20 in the body portion 1, and has its smooth reducedend projecting into the space in the plunger 40, provided between theshoulders 44 and produced by the neck 42. Thus the smooth end of thescrew 48 limits the movement of the plunger within the body portion 1,is held in place by screwing into the body portion, and has its headlocated in the elongated slot 23 of the sheath 21, the said head thuslimiting the movement of the body portion 1 relatively to the sheath 21,as will be hereinafter described.

A screw 49 enters the sheath 21 and its head projectsso as to guide andretain the collar 31 by operating within the slots 33 and 34 of saidcollar.

In the bottom plan view of Fig. 5 it will be seen that the cross-bar 26is provided centrally in its bottom with a conical depression 50, thisbeing for the reception of the ends of the shafts, pins, or pivots ofthe various parts which are to be lifted or extracted. In this view itwill also be seen that the fingers 6 and 7 are formed with grooves 51 intheir adjacent ends, which enable them to embrace the shafts, pins,620., of the various portions; but it will be understood that the endsof these fingers may be given any other form suitable for properlyengaging and holding the various parts to be operated upon. The spring47 is much stronger and stiffer than the spring 30, said spring 47normally holding the plunger in its highest position with the inner endof the screw 48 in engagement with the lower one of the shoulders 44 onthe plunger. The spring 30 has ordinarily sufiicient strength to easilylift any article grasped by the fingers 6 and 7 Having thus describedthe details and structure of my invention, I will now setforth theoperation of the same.

Primarily it should be understood how the parts are brought into propercooperative relation and are operatively assembled. The

fingers 6 and 7 having been properly secured to the body portion 1 andthe springs 13 and 14 set in place to bear upon and hold the fingers in.the normal position, (shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4,) the sheath 21 is sliddown over the body portion 1 until the flange 22 comes in contact withthe shoulder 4, the slot 23 being made to register with the aperture 20.The

cross-bar 26 is then secured in place. Next the collar 31 is slid ontothe sheath 21. Then the spring 30 is slipped over the screw-threadedpart 5 of the body portion 1 and set upon the flange 22 of the sheath21. Next the adjusting-nut 38 is screwed upon the part 5 of thebodyportion 1. Then the plunger 40 is slid within the bodyportion 1 untilits lower end contacts with the extensions 11 and 12 of theholding-fingers, the spring 47 having previously been placed upon theplunger. 7 Now by properly positioning the parts on each other the screw48 can be set until its smooth end enters the space at the neck 42 ofthe plunger and its head is housed within the slot 23 of the sheath 21'.This prevents the plunger from being removed and causes the spring 47 tobe held under compression between the upper end of the part 5 of thebody portion and the head 41 of the plunger. By now adjusting the collar31 upon the sheath 21 the screw 19 can be set in place so that its headwill operate within the slots 33 and 34:, thus enabling the said collarto be adjusted vertically on the sheath 21 and prevent its removaltherefrom.- It will now be seen that the implement is capable of severaladjustments that is to say, the collar 31 can be adjusted to twoextremes by first turning the collar upon the sheath until the screw 19is in the straight slot 33 and then either raising or lowering thecollar on the sheath according to the desired position for the legs 32.By turning the adjusting-nut 38 one way or the other the downwardmovement and lower position of the body portion 1, and with it themovement and position of the holding-fingers 6 and 7 relatively to thelower ends of the legs 32, can be regulated and determined. Irrespectiveof the adjustment of these several parts the plunger 4E0 may be moved toits fullest extent. provided the relation of the fingers 6 and 7 and thelegs 32 is such as to permit the full extent of the movement of saidfingers. In other words, the legs may be in such position that when theplunger operates upon the extensions 11 and 12 to open the fingers 6 and7 the latter may be limited in their movements by contact with saidlegs; but it will be understood that the plunger always has thecapability of movement to its fullest extreme, and the legs may beformed so as not to impede or limit the movement of the fingers. If nowthe parts are adjusted as shown in Fig. 4, the operation will be asfollows: The operator holds the implement between the thumb and secondfinger, with the firstfinger resting upon the head 41 of the plunger 40.

Pressure is now brought to bear upon the head tl, the spring 4:7depressing the body portion 1 within the sheath 21, this beingaccomplished without independentmovement of the plunger 40 within saidbody portion 1, because the spring 47 is sufficiently strong to firstcause the compression of the spring 30 between the flange 22 of thesheath 21 and the adjustingnut 38. This movement will continue until thecompression of spring 30 gives the same sufficient. resistance toovercome the normal strength of spring &7 or until nut 38 contacts withsheath 21 or the screw 18 engages the lower end of slot 23 in thesheath. This condition can be controlled and regulated by the nut 38, ifthe spring 30 is sufficiently strong, so as to be obtained or reached atsubstantially any plane desired; but in either event the fingers willhave reached their lower limit, for continued pressure upon the head 41of the plunger 40 will then cause compression of the spring L7 andmovement of the plunger longitudinally within the bore 19 of the bodyportion 1, and until the pin 46 and inclined or conical portion L5 atthe lower end of the plunger have spread the fingers 6 and 7 to theextent permitted by the legs 32 or until the upper shoulder 14: engagesthe inner end of screw 48 by forcing apart the extending portions 11 and12. If the collar 31 is adjusted as shown in Fig. 1, the parts,according to the operation just described, will be in the position ofFig. 2; but if the collar be adjusted to its higher position, with screwd9 in the lower slot 34, the fingers 6 and 7, according to the operationjust described, will be projected considerably below the pads 35. Ineither event and according to the operation just described the fingers 6and 7 are first bodily moved into a position where they can properlyengage the part which is to be lifted and are then spread apartpreparatory to gripping said part. The jaws being now positioned andopened, as in Fig. 2, the legs 32are brought into a position of restupon a given surface without undue pressure, and by lifting the fingerfrom the head of the plunger the spring 47, being the stronger and beingunder strong compression, will instantly lift the plunger and permit thesprings 13 and 14: to quickly and firmly close the fingers 6 and 7 uponthe part to be lifted. The plunger having been forced to its upperextreme position by the spring &7, the spring 30 will take control andlift the body portion 1 within the sheath 21, thus bodily lifting thefingers 6 and 7, together with the part which is tightly gripped betweenthem. If the spring 30 is found to be too light to lift the part, thenut 38 can be turned so as to force the body portion vertically and liftthe fingers and the part grasped thereby, and this manipulation issometimes desirable to'avoid risk of losing parts by flying off. Byadjusting the collar and the body portion 1 the fingers 6 and 7 can bepositioned &

so as to lift the hands of a watch or other parts which lie close to asurface with ease and certainty or so as to lift parts which are more orless above a surface. Thus it will be seen that without any efiort onthe part of the operative or the use of unwieldy and bulky instrumentsthe most delicate parts can be properly engaged, lifted, and manipulatedby the mere movement of the first finger of the hand of the operative.

From the above description it will be obvious that I have produced animplement or pair of lifting-tongs which can be used for manipulatingthe most delicate parts of a watch or other article, which is certainand easy of action and operation, and which is an immense aid onoccasions when ones hand is inclined to be unsteady.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, havingin combination a longitudinally-movable body portion, gripping-fingerscarried thereby, means for normally holding the gripping-fingers closed,and means for opening the gripping-fingers when the body portion reachesone extreme of its longitudinal movement.

2. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination alongitudinally-movable body portion, gripping-fingers pivotally carriedthereby, means for normally holding the gripping fingers closed, andmeans for opening the gripping-fingers when the body portion reaches oneextreme of its longitudinal movement.

3. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination a bodyportion carrying spring-controlled, normally closed gripping-fingers,means for depressing the fingers, and means for actuating the fingers toopen the same against the spring-pressure.

4.. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination alongitudinally-movable body portion, grippingfingers carried thereby,means for normally closing the gripping-fingers, and means for bodilylifting the gripping-fingers.

5. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination alongitudinally-movable body portion, gripping-fingers pivotallysupported thereby, means for normally closing the gripping-fingers, andmeans for bodily moving the gripping-fingers into and out of grippingposition.

6. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination a bodyportion longitudinally bored, grippingfingers pivotally connected to oneend of the body portion, means for normally closing the fingers, aplunger located in the bore, means whereby the plunger may bereciprocated in the body portion, and means carried by the plunger forpositively spreading the fingers.

7. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination a bodyportion, gripping-fingers pivoted thereto, means for normally pressingthe fingers yieldingly together, means for spreading the fingers apart,means carried by the body portion and movable longitudinally thereofaffording a support for the tongs, and means for regulating the positionof the fingers relatively to the support.

8. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination a bodyportion, gripping-fingers pivotally supported thereby, means foractuating the fingers, means independent of the body portion and movablerelatively thereto for supporting the tongs, and means for adjusting thefingers relatively to the support.

9. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination a bodyportion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, means for actuating thegripping-fingers, means for supporting the tongs, and means whereby thebody portion may be reciprocated relatively to the support.

10. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination abody portion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, means for actuating thegripping-fingers, means for supporting the tongs, means forreciprocating the fingers relatively to the support, and means forreciprocating the body portion relatively to the support.

11. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described,

having in combination a body portion, gripping-fingers pivoted thereto,means for actuating the gripping-fingers, a support for the tongs, meansfor reciprocating the body portion relatively to the support, means forreciprocating the fingers relatively to the body portion, and means forregulating the position of the fingers relatively to the support.

12. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination abody portion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, means for normallyclosing the gripping-fingers, a cross-bar fixed in position on the bodyportion for cooperating with the gripping-fingers to lift a givenarticle, and means for supporting the tongs.

13. Lifting-tongsforthepurposedescribed, having in combination a bodyportion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, means for actuating thegripping-fingers, a support carried by the body portion, and means foradjusting the support on said body portion.

14:. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination abody portion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, a spring-supportedplunger carried by the body portion, means on the plunger for positivelyspreading the fingers, and means acting in opposition to the plunger toclose the fingers.

l5. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, having in combination abody portion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, a plunger carried by thebody portion, a spring supporting the plunger on the body portion, asupport for the tongs, and means interposed between the support and thebody portion whereby the body portion may be reciprocated independentlyof the support.

16. Lifting-tongsforthepurposedescribed, having in combination a bodyportion, gripping-fingers carried thereby, means "for actuating thegripping-fingers, a sheath carried by the body portion, a support forthe tongs, means between the sheath and the body portion for actuatingthe latter independently of the means for actuating the fingers.

17. Lifting-tongs for the purposedescribed, comprising a support, a bodyportion movable longitudinally relatively to the support,

gripping-fingers carried by the body portion, means for actuating thegripping-fingers comprisingaspring-controlled plunger, means foradjusting the position of the support relatively to the fingers, andmeans for adjusting the body portion relatively to the support.

18. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a support, abody portion, gripping-fingers pivotally supported thereby, means foractuating the fingers including a spring-controlled plunger, and meansfor supporting the body portion relatively to the support including aspring, the tensile strength of the plunger-spring being greater thanthat of the body-supporting spring.

19. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a body portioncarrying pivoted fingers and having means for actuating the fingers, asheath supporting a cross-bar which cooperates with the lingers, acollar having supporting-legs, and means for adjusting the collarrelatively to the sheath and body por tion.

20. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a body portioncarrying pivotallysupported spring-controlled gripping-fingers, a sheathsurrounding the body portion and carrying a cross-bar which cooperateswith the lingers, a collar carried by the sheath having legs forsupporting the tongs, a plunger for actuating the fingers, a springbetween the plunger and the body portion, and a spring between the bodyportion and the sheath.

21. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a support,gripping-fingers carried thereby and movable longitudinally thereof,means for yieldingly holding said fingers normally closed, and meanswhereby the fingers may be moved longitudinally relatively to thesupport and subsequently opened to engage the article'to be lifted.

E22. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described,

comprising a support, gripping-fingers carried thereby and movablelongitudinally thereof, means for normally holding the fingers retractedrelatively to the support and also closed, and means whereby the fingersmay be moved bodily from retracted position and subsequently opened.

23. Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a support,gripping-fingers carried thereby and movable longitudinally thereof,means for normally holding the fingers retracted relatively to thesupport and also closed, means whereby the fingers may be moved bodilyfrom retracted position and subsequently opened, and means forregulating the extent of bodily movement of the fingers.

24s Lifting-tongs for the purpose described, comprising a support,gripping-fingers carried thereby and movable relatively thereto, meansfor normally holding the fingers retracted relatively to the support andalso closed, means whereby the fingers may be moved bodily fromretracted position and subsequently opened, and means for regulating theextent of the spread of the fingers.

25. Lifting-tongs comprising a support, gripping-fingers carried therebyand movable relatively thereto, means for normally holding said fingersretracted relatively to the support and also closed, means whereby thefingers may be moved bodily from retracted position and subsequentlyopened, and means for regulating the bodily movement of the fingers andproportionately regulating the spread of the latter. i

26. Lifting-tongs comprising supporting means, gripping-fingers carriedby the support, means whereby the fingers may be bodily reciprocatedrelatively to said supportand normally held retracted, and independentmeans whereby the fingers may be oscillated and normally held closed.

27. Lifting-tongs su bstantially as described, having in combinationnormally closed gripping-fingers, means for supporting and normallymaintaining said fingers retracted, means for bodily moving said fingersfrom retracted into gripping position, means for spreading the fingersafter they have reached gripping position, and means for supporting theentire instrument.

In testimony w-hereoflhave hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CARL 'WILHELM ZIPPERER.

Witnesses:

ULYssEs J. BYWATER, CHURCHILL HARVEY ELDER.

